"The Smell of Success"

After being asked to go 24 hours with no electronic media, I honestly didn’t think it was going to be as hard as people were making it seem. Reading “The Longest Day,” by Danna L. Walker, made me realize that there are plenty of things to do that doesn’t involve electronic media and that these students were simply over-reacting. I planned to start my 24 hours on Wednesday November 21st. I wanted to stay up real late on Tuesday night so I would be able to sleep as late as possible. When the clock struck 12:00, I turned off my television and my phone. I saved all my reading assignments for the 24 hour period, so I began to read for one of my classes. After a few hours passed, I tossed and turned until I finally fell asleep. Falling asleep with no Television was far from pleasurable.

I woke up at 12:30, ate lunch, and began my drive home. Sitting in the car for 45minutes with no radio was mind-numbing. Watching people sing along to the radio tempted me to turn mine on, but luckily I continued to concentrate on my driving. I got home, opened my front door and realized the television was on. I plugged my ears and screamed to turn it off. I began to tell my mom about the assignment. She proceeded to tell me that she knows she wouldn’t be able to do it and didn’t think there were many people that could. What she said made me even more determined. I went straight up to my room and continued to read. By 6:00, I was so bored I didn’t know what to do with myself. My whole family was downstairs, watching television, so I had to stay upstairs and be anti-social. The only way I would come down is if they turned the television and the music off. Thankfully they did.

To make a long story short, I was extremely irritable all day because I was constantly listening to myself think. If anything, the silence is what made the 24 hours so dreadful. In conclusion, I leaned a lot from this experiment. Even though I found it difficult to follow through with the requirements, it was easier when I was by myself rather then when there were people around me. This proves exactly how much our society is caught up with electronic media. It seemed that everywhere I went I was haunted by some form of media. I couldn’t go anywhere because music plays in the background of almost every shopping mall, grocery store and gym. I had to stay home and rely on my family to deprive themselves as well as entertain me. My 24 hours of no electronic media was dreading, yet successful. I need to be honest, the minute the clock struck 12:00, I turned on any and all forms of electronic media I could find

Couch Potato v.s. Book Nerd

The authors, Neil Postman and Camielle Paglia argue the advantages between print and television. Postman states, “Television lacks emotion.” In television you view the emotion the character is feeling while books describe the emotion. I think it is easier to interpret how a person is feeling by reading it rather than watching it on television. The book describes how the character is feeling in explicit detail. Postman states that reading teaches us to reason. Reading, unlike television, gives the reader the opportunity to use their imagination and re-read a section in order to get a full understanding of what the author is trying to describe.


Postman states that reading teaches children to sit still. In other words, since people aren’t born with the ability to read, it must be taught and once it is taught, it has the power to educate. Paglia and Postman agree that literate people, such as teachers and writers are not as physically active as others. Even though the two authors agree, in order to be fully engaged, both television and reading requires you to sit. Postman argues that the written word is a symbol system. Even though the written word lacks images, a scenario explained in a book is often imagined in one’s mind. The negative images people see on television often causes them to misunderstand what is actually happening. Reading a text can easily be understood by simply re-reading it. I agree with postman that entertainment images should be replaced with important written content.

"The Terrifying Shadow of Nosferatu"

The scene from Nosferatu that I find most interesting begins as Nina reads the “Book of Vampires.” Even though she promised her husband that she wouldn’t read the book, she went against his wishes and read it anyways. She read a few sentences in the book that scares her to the point of tears. “Only a woman can break his frightful spell- a woman pure in heart- who will offer her blood freely to Nosferatu, and will keep the vampire by her side until the cock has crowed.” Nina then gives a terrifying look into mid air, looking like she is in deep thought about what she has read.

Her husband runs into the room, grabbing the book from Nina’s hands. Before he has the chance to get upset, she grabs him and hugs him tightly showing major terror in her eyes. As she points across her bedroom window, she explains in so little words that she can’t get Nosferatu out of her mind being that he is directly across from her every night. Her husband tries to convince her that everything will be okay, but Nina just walks away with her head in her hands, crying. Jonathon stands by the window, thinking about what his wife had said, he turns around to look out the window and suddenly breaks down in tears burying his head on the bed, showing panic and frustration.

After realizing that the Nosferatu has escaped from his keeper, the townspeople are terrified at who his next victim will be. Nina sits in her chair by the window and re-reads a sentence in the “Book of Vampires,” on how a woman can break his spell. Again, she stares into mid air, looking like she is in deep thought, and finally realizes that she has the power to stop what he is doing. The scene switches to Nosferatu sitting on top of a house, as people run around frightened. They flash back to Nina sitting in her chair, sewing. She looks up quickly and lets out a long sigh of apprehension realizing the fact that if she ever wants her town to be normal, she must follow through with what she knows will put Nosferatu to death.

As the night approaches, Nosferatu, creepily stands by the window looking into Nina’s bedroom. Nina wakes up suddenly, walks over to the window, staring back at Nosferatu. She opens the window, standing right in front of it, giving Nosferatu the impression that she wants him. Nina wakes her husband and tells him to, “Get the Professor.” She needed to be alone with Nosferatu. Nina sees the shadow of Nosferatu and slowly goes to her bed. As she sits on the bed, she sees his hand shadow on her chest. Nosferatu begins to suck Nina’s neck as the cock crows. Nosferatu hears the crow, looks up with worry in his eyes and falls to the ground. “The master is dead.” Nina wakes up to see that her plan was successful.

"Beauty Comes In All Sizes"

All forms of media show images of flawless, beautiful, bone thin women who flaunt their body parts to sell anything from cars to plastic surgery. Magazines, television shows, movies, and commercials occupy a lot of our free time and are enjoyable, as long as people don’t base their self image around what they see. The women in the media set bad examples for how young girls think they should look. These airbrushed models and actresses’ end up putting major pressure on women of all ages to lose weight. The media has the ability to affect a young girl or woman’s self image negatively or positively. This all depends on how well she rejects society’s demands for what they see as the “ideal body.”

Starting at a very young age, girl’s are immediately given a negative message of what they should look like once a “Barbie,” doll is put into their hands. The unrealistic perfect body, large breasts and blonde hair can give a little girl the impression that these characteristics are what consists of being pretty. As they get older, the girl’s image is influenced by how the people around her react to her body and the way she looks. In turn, she becomes exceedingly conscious of what society’s standards looks at as havine the "perfect body." According to Teen Magazine, “35 per cent of girls 6-12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50-70 per cent of normal weight girls believes they are over weight.” The body features in the media are enhanced with props, lighting, and computer techniques, such as airbrushing. Young girls think they should look like these airbrushed models, but the truth is, it’s just not possible. The majority of commercials on television are promoting diet pills, plastic surgery, and diet programs. “It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth $100 billion (U.S) a year.” After counting 36 women magazines I have around the house, 25 had at least one weight loss tip on the cover of the magazine. This self done survey, explains why it is almost impossible for girls not to think that being thin is the essential criterion of beauty. Too many young girls starve themselves in order to look like the models they see in the media. These adolescents don’t realize that comparing themselves to these women is not realistic and is proven to lower their self esteem.

According to a Health Magazine, “The media message is that if you try hard enough, spend enough or suffer enough, you will have the look you want and that being skinny somehow brings you happiness and success.” The skinny models women see in the media can make losing weight a discouraging process which cause a large percentage to develop an eating disorder. After trying to eat healthy and exercise, women begin to get frustrated with their struggle to lose weight, causing them to get sucked into commercial and advertising’s quick fix solutions. Plastic surgery, as advertised on television is an easy way out, but many health risks are involved. Some advertisements such as diet pills give women the idea that these pills will make them lose weight quick and easy. This can result in depression, low self esteem, and compulsive eating due to her extreme efforts of trying and not getting immediate results. Work out tapes and exercise equipment could influence women to work out in a healthy manner, but also can give them the crazy idea that over exercising will result in looking like the models portrayed in the videos. Unfortunately, the thin models and actresses in the media make real women feel that they are invisible. They look at these women and judge themselves according to how our society portrays beauty.

Most women want to feel good as well as look good. There are a lot of healthy ways to lose weight besides comparing yourself to unrealistic images we see in the media. Exercising and eating healthy is the first step to loosing weight. Diet pills and plastic surgery is an easy way out and doesn’t teach the person the correct way to become in shape. Television, movies, magazines and commercials are a large part of our lives. As long as women stay away from the unrealistic stereotypes, then they won’t get sucked in to some of the harmful messages the media has to offer. In order for the media not to affect women’s self esteem, parents should teach their daughters at a young age that real beauty is natural and lies within.

Blog 2- "Scratchin For Some Internet Time"

When evaluating my media habits, I have realized exactly how much I am connected to the media. From the second I wake up to the moment I go to sleep, I am connected to the media in numerous ways through out my day. For starters, I use my cell phone as an alarm clock. It reassures me that I know I will get up no matter if the power goes out or for whatever other reason. I found that using my cell is just the safer way to go. I use my cell phone as a landline and am really dependant on it, being that it is one of the only ways to keep in touch with my family. Once I wake up I usually do the whole morning routine and than go on my computer to check the blackboard site, daily news, and my e-mail. I am on my computer a lot during the day for school purposes and for entertainment. When it comes to television, I really don’t watch that much, unless the Redskins are playing or if I’m bored and have nothing better to do. Listening to music, especially Sublime, really helps me get through my day. Whether listening to it in the car or while I do school work, it is a large part of my life. Analyzing my media habits has shown me that I depend a lot on the media, but most of all I think I am very dependant on the internet. I would rather read about the news rather than watch it on television because it lets me do many things at the same time. I can read about world news and entertainment news at the same time. The internet is also convenient for keeping in touch with friends that I don’t get to see often. As I said in my first blog, I am very family oriented and I do like to stay in contact with all of my family. Being a college student, I unfortunately don’t have time to spend hours on the phone with each family member. It is much easier and faster to send a mass e-mail to see how everyone is. My mom always e-mails me about food safety, crime, and really anything she thinks I should be aware of. I think she definitely influences my relationship with the media, because she is constantly encouraging me to stay informed with the news. In the future, I think I will be even more in touch with the media so I can keep my kids educated like my mom does for me. I will send them crazy news articles to make them paranoid as well. Even though I appreciate the articles she sends me I can honestly say I don’t believe everything I hear or read and tend to always form my own opinion.

Blog1-Who are you? Why are you here?

My name is Mallory and I am a junior here, at UMBC. I should be graduating this year but, I am a transfer from Frostburg State and lost a few credits in the transfer. I am an outgoing, friendly, family oriented girl who is always up for having a good time. I enjoy hanging out with my friends and family, shopping, running, writing, swimming, dancing and am always open to trying new things. As I said above, I love shopping whether it is for me or for other people, it is by far my favorite thing to do. Shopping online, although dangerous for me, still helps me cope with stress.(haha). http://www.bloomingdales.com/ and http://www.nordstroms.com/ are my two favorite sites. I'm a really good listener and love meeting new people. If I could give advice to my classmates and anyone reading this post, for that matter, I would say: “Do what you love, love what you do.” Happiness is what matters.College was never an option for me; it was more of a priority. My parents always said that I could do whatever I wanted in life, as long as I had a degree under my belt. They always taught me that having an education is one of the most important aspects to being an independent person. As a freshman in college, my priorities were very different from what they are today. My main priority was to have a good time, which unfortunately involved no schoolwork. Once I entered my second semester at UMBC, my whole outlook changed when my grades dropped. I started thinking about my goals and realized that I wasn’t in college to waste my parent’s money on partying. I finally became conscious of the fact that I am here to retain as much knowledge as I can so one day I can apply it to my career. Besides the facts and information that I have learned in all my classes, college has most of all, given me the passion and the desire to set goals and achieve them. Now, when it comes to school, I am very hardworking and dedicated to getting good grades and learning all about my major, Communications.I am taking American Studies 222 because it looked like an interesting class that would get me ready and more involved in my field. I have changed my major many times and think that I have finally found what interests me. I hope that by taking this class I become more educated about world news and how the history of the media is involved with it. I am taking two other American Studies courses this semester and am happy to say that I am intrigued by all three of them. This proves that I am one step closer to my goal which is to one day be a successful, independent, woman who loves what she does.

More information about me on http://www.thefacebook.com/